Ronald Joseph Fernholz

Ronald Joseph Fernholz, age 68, died Thursday, December 1, 2016 in St. Cloud, MN. Visitation will be held from 5 - 7 p.m. on Tuesday, December 6, 2016 at Zniewski Funeral Home in Benson. Visitation will continue Wednesday, December 7, 2016 from 12:30 – 1:30 p.m., followed by the funeral service at 1:30 p.m., at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff, MN.  Burial will be in the St. Bridget’s Catholic Church Cemetery.

Ronald J. Fernholz was born on October 6, 1948 in Benson, Minnesota, the son of Christian and Marcella (Platt) Fernholz. He was baptized and confirmed at St. Bridget’s Catholic Church in DeGraff. He grew up on the family farm south west of DeGraff, and attended country school in district number 28. He went on to attend school in Benson. On April 10, 1987, Ronald was united in marriage to Dawn E. Schroeder in Milbank, South Dakota. Together they were able to share in more than 29 years of marriage.

Ronald, in his early years, worked as a carpenter and did masonry work. He worked for Jennie-O for over 20 years. What he most enjoyed was working and tinkering on machinery and farming. Among the things Ronald enjoyed were farming, fishing, hunting, gardening, riding his John Deere tractors, riding around the sections looking at the crops, and checking on the weather. Ronald was called from this life on December 1, 2016 in St. Cloud, MN. He attained the age of 68 years, 1 month and 25 days.

He is survived by his wife, Dawn Fernholz of Hackensack, MN; children, Tamara (Dan Anderson) Fernholz of Willmar, MN, and Nathen (Jennifer Smith) Fernholz of Benson, MN; grandchildren, Brady Anderson, Mckenzie and Mckayla Fernholz and Kaylee Skare; and sisters, Lorna (Maurice) Collette of Grafton, ND and Charlotte Berg of Willmar, MN.

He was preceded in death by his son, Scott Joseph Fernholz; parents, Christian and Marcella Fernholz; brother, Gerald Fernholz; and brother in-law, Russ Berg.